The PSB party in Volta Redonda has taken a dispute to the Electoral Court involving the mandate of councilman Raone Ferreira, elected under the party's banner in 2024, who recently left the party to join the PT (Workers' Party) with the aim of running for a seat in the Legislative Assembly. The action questions the legality of the change outside the period permitted by electoral law and requests the replacement of the councilman with the party's first alternate.
The initiative is based on the understanding that there was party disloyalty. Under the current rule, council members can only change parties without risking the loss of their mandate during the so-called party switching window, which in this case is only scheduled for 2028. Outside of this period, the defection may be considered irregular, except in specific situations provided for by law.
Legal basis for the action
According to the PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party), Raone Ferreira was elected with the support of the party structure, including resources from the electoral fund. The party maintains that his departure without just cause compromises the election results and the balance of proportional representation in the City Council.
In the lawsuit, the party also requests that the first alternate immediately assume the seat currently held by the council member. The central argument is supported by established decisions of the Electoral Court, according to which, in the Brazilian proportional representation system, the mandate belongs to the party and not to the individual candidate.
The legislation also reinforces this understanding. The Political Parties Law provides for the loss of mandate in cases of disaffiliation without justification accepted by the courts. The PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party) states that the legal measure seeks to ensure compliance with these rules and preserve the composition defined by the electorate.
Attempt at an internal solution
According to the party, there was an internal attempt to resolve the issue. Last November, the municipal board met with Raone Ferreira present to evaluate his request to leave the party. The majority of members voted against his departure, a position that was not accepted by the councilman.
In a statement, the PSB declared that the action aims to ensure that the party retains the two seats it won in the City Council and affirmed that it is acting to preserve the will expressed by voters in the 2024 elections.
Leave a comment